Will COVID-19 Worsen the Racial Wealth Gap in the United States?

As COVID-19 cases in the United States (U.S.) have skyrocketed, the virus seems to disproportionately affect Blacks, minorities, and the poor. In addition to inversely affecting public health, COVID-19 confronts Americans with an economic crisis. It has exasperated some pre-COVID-19 economic and health disparities-including wealth gap, housing disparity, lack of job security, and so forth among black Americans. The goal of this article is threefold: first by following an historical approach it explores why a significant wealth gap exists between Americans. Second, it explores how systemic economic inequality is magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Third, it recommends some policies to address economic inequality and close the existing wealth gap.